It is done...Dutch right wing governement collapses

[Skanky Burns]

Wait a sec Cyber, most of the posters here (in this thread) aren't Dutch!

[Clear Skies]

Scuse me! Interested non-Dutch person here!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Second that. I'd move to the Netherlands if I could figure out how to do it and make it pay; I love that country. Please keep it in English for all us interested outsiders.

[Zopperoni]

Originally posted by Saint Marcus
Anyway, Balkenende isn't that good a PM. For the past 3 months, he hasn't been a very good leader dealing with the issues in the LPF. And it was his responsability.

You can't fight fate.

[Saint Marcus]

The opposition is truely a wrackage. The PvdA doesn't even have a leader, Thom de Graaf will just lose half of his seats again. The only opposition party I respect (eventhough I disagree with them ) is the SP.

why don't you mention the second biggest oposition party? Groenlinks is doing quite well, and is up and the polls. They, together with the SP, have been doing an amazing job. And yeah, D66 is doing badly, but they have less seats than both GL and SP to begin with.

I think people like Balkenende, who's indeed not such a good debater, are equal politicians though.

yes, people like JP, but you can't say he's an equally good politician to Zalm, cause Balkenende has hardly any experience whatsoever. Time will tell, but so far he hasn't impressed me. He could have done worse, but he was by no means brilliant.

Anyway, I think the VVD have been planning the collapse of the coalition for months now, cause as it stands it's win-win situation for them.

[Saint Marcus]

You can't fight fate.

irrelevant. a PM is always responsable.

[Solly]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
On the Net, it is considered very bad form to pick on somebody else's spelling and grammar.

I wasn't picking on it, I was helping out someone whose first language isn't English.

It's only like pointing out to a mate that they have food on their chin. Or something.

[Dr. Stiby]

Dutch right wing governement collapses

and it's about goddamn time!

I agree it was about time for the LPF to leave the cabinet. I don't think too much will change though. The CDA and the VVD are all set to too continue on their current track. They are likely to acquire a majority of the votes, so I don't expect too much changes (apart from a bigger opposition).

[Saint Marcus]

they aren't all that likely to get a solid majority of the votes together. The last poll showed a good lead, but the poll the day before showed only a very marginal lead. That poll even showed the PvdA bigger as the VVD.

[Dr. Stiby]

Originally posted by Saint Marcus
they aren't all that likely to get a solid majority of the votes together. The last poll showed a good lead, but the poll the day before showed only a very marginal lead. That poll even showed the PvdA bigger as the VVD.

I know the PvdA and VVD are close and that a combination of either of these with the CDA will probably get a (be it small) majority. However, the CDA will want to avoid the inconsistency of suddenly going a leftish direction and cooperate with the PvdA.
I do hope for a leftwing governement however, though I don't see it happen here until 2006/7.

[Saint Marcus]

what is the CDA and VVD only get 70-74 seats? Or what if they get 75-78 seats? In the first case, a third party is needed. In the second case, a third party is desirable (there are always some absentees, or disidents).

[Zopperoni]

Polls, shmolls...

IIRC, the polling wasn't that accurate in May.

[Dr. Stiby]

Originally posted by Saint Marcus
what is the CDA and VVD only get 70-74 seats? Or what if they get 75-78 seats? In the first case, a third party is needed. In the second case, a third party is desirable (there are always some absentees, or disidents).

Depends on what all the LPF spinoffs will do. Though it's debatable wether VVD and CDA will indulge in a coalition with an LPF-related party again, I see an alternative. It's up to Leefbaar Nederland to show to the people that their beliefs are basically the same as Fortuyns. The difference being, however, LN does provide a well-structured organisation.
Otherwise, a small christian party might fill the gap.
I'll keep track on the polls the following weeks.
(just trying some new smilies (haven't been around here for a while, don't know how new they are)).

[Zopperoni]

On a sidenote, I would be rather amused if Heinsbroek were to go and form his own party and compete in the elections.

[Goingonit]

I love good ol' left-wing Dutch policies. And that right-wing government was nothing but bad news.